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Addison seeks help with long-range plan

Addison is inviting its community to dream big.

The village is updating its comprehensive plan after nearly 20 years and this month is looking to residents, business people, community leaders and others to share input on what the village should look like in 2030.

“This is basically a footprint of how you want to see your community developed over the next 15 to 20 years,” said Bob Nissen, assistant community development director.

On Aug. 17, interested residents can attend a meeting at village hall to find out how they can be part of the project, which will take about 10 to 12 months to complete.

Addison leaders hoped for many years to update the plan, but hiring a private consultant to lead the process proved too costly at nearly $100,000, Nissen said.

This year, however, the village applied for and landed a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, or CMAP, which will foot the bill.

“This is a big deal,” said Nissen.

Cynthia Hernandez, who conducts outreach on the project for CMAP, said the comprehensive plan will encompass all aspects of the village, including transportation, housing and economic development goals. She said people should think of the plan like a grocery list for Addison.

“If you go shopping and forget your list, you just randomly select things that look appealing,” Hernandez said. “But we want to set people up with the things they need to thrive. And we will help with finding solutions to challenges they are currently going through.”

Examples of issues the plan might address include sites such as the old Addison Golf Club site at Mill and Army Trail roads. The village has often received and considered proposals to build residential housing in the area, but none have come to fruition, Nissen said.

“So, for example, maybe we want to designate that as some senior-centered residential, or maybe we just want to leave it as open space and try to develop walking trails or a nice, passive setting,” Nissen said.

If you go

What: Provide input on Addison’s comprehensive plan

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17

Where: Addison Village Hall, 1 Friendship Plaza Cost: Free

Details: RSVP to Cynthia Hernandez at chernandez@cmap.illinois.gov or (312) 386-8623